Andrew Jackson and Indian Removal
The East coast of the United States was burdened with new settlers and becoming over populated. President Andrew
Jackson and the government had to find a way to alleviate this over crowdedness and move people to the West. The government passed the Indian Removal Policy in the year
1830, which called for the removal of Native Americans from the Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia areas. It also moved the Seminole capital, Echota, in
Tennessee to the new capital called New Echota, Georgia and then eventually to the Indian Territory. The Indian
Territory was declared in the Act of Congress in 1830 with the Indian Removal Policy. Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge, and
John Ridge and their corps accepted the responsibility for the removal of one of the largest tribes in the Southeast.
Even though they were the earliest to adapt to European ways, they were still considered inferior to the white man.
There was a war involving the Cherokee and the Chickasaw before the Indian Removal Policy was passed and the
Cherokee were defeated. Chief Dragging Canoe was forced to sign a treaty in 1777 which split up the tribe. The portion of the tribe in Chattanooga, Tennessee became known as the
Chickamauga and Chief Doublehead became their chief. After a short period of time, Chief Doublehead signed a treaty and gave away the land of his people. Since tribal law says "Death to any
Cherokee who proposed to sell or exchange tribal land",
Chief Doublehead was later executed by Major Ridge.
Shortly thereafter, there was another treaty signed in
December 29, 1835 which is called The Treaty of New Echota.
It was signed by a party of 500 Cherokee out of about
17,000. Between 1785 and 1902 twenty-five treaties were signed with white men and more and more tribal lands were given away. In 1838 General Winfield Scott collected the
Cherokee Indians and took them from their homes. Along with their personal belongings, The Cherokee were placed in
Jackson and the government had to find a way to alleviate this over crowdedness and move people to the West. The government passed the Indian Removal Policy in the year
1830, which called for the removal of Native Americans from the Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia areas. It also moved the Seminole capital, Echota, in
Tennessee to the new capital called New Echota, Georgia and then eventually to the Indian Territory. The Indian
Territory was declared in the Act of Congress in 1830 with the Indian Removal Policy. Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge, and
John Ridge and their corps accepted the responsibility for the removal of one of the largest tribes in the Southeast.
Even though they were the earliest to adapt to European ways, they were still considered inferior to the white man.
There was a war involving the Cherokee and the Chickasaw before the Indian Removal Policy was passed and the
Cherokee were defeated. Chief Dragging Canoe was forced to sign a treaty in 1777 which split up the tribe. The portion of the tribe in Chattanooga, Tennessee became known as the
Chickamauga and Chief Doublehead became their chief. After a short period of time, Chief Doublehead signed a treaty and gave away the land of his people. Since tribal law says "Death to any
Cherokee who proposed to sell or exchange tribal land",
Chief Doublehead was later executed by Major Ridge.
Shortly thereafter, there was another treaty signed in
December 29, 1835 which is called The Treaty of New Echota.
It was signed by a party of 500 Cherokee out of about
17,000. Between 1785 and 1902 twenty-five treaties were signed with white men and more and more tribal lands were given away. In 1838 General Winfield Scott collected the
Cherokee Indians and took them from their homes. Along with their personal belongings, The Cherokee were placed in